Codex: Atlanteans (playtest rules?)

TROOPS

Striker School (Atlantan: Jouer-Nae)
Strikers are the mainstay of an Atlantan force, the standard soldiers. They are recruited from the Cloudy Ocean on their homeworld, where the waters are filled with thick silt and visibility is minimal. They have developed excellent eyesight for this reason, which transfers directly into more efficient gunnery.

---------Points/Model--WS----BS------S-------T-------W------I--------A------Ld-----Sv
Striker----------9---------2-------3-------3-------2[3]-----1------3--------1--------8------3+
Striker Guide +10-------2-------3-------3-------2[3]-----1------3--------2--------9------3+

School: 5-15 Strikers.

Weapons: Disruptor rifle.

Options: Up to one Striker in the squad may replace their Disruptor rifle with a heavy weapon from the following list: teslacannon at +15 points, plasma cannon at +25 points, neutron blaster at +10 points, warp cannon at +20 points, gattling cannon at +20 points. The squad may include up to one mirror-gun platform for a cost of +35 points. Two Strikers must be nominated as gunners for the platform. They must replace their Disruptor rifle with a Disruptor pistol or close combat weapon (they both need at least one hand to move, aim, and fire the gun).

Character: One of the Strikers may be upgraded to a Striker Guide at +5 points. The Guide has access to the Atlantan armory. The Guide may replace his Disruptor rifle with a Disruptor pistol and close combat weapon at no extra cost.

Poseidon: The squad may be transported in a Poseidon (see the Poseidon entry at the end of the Troops section) for +65 points.

SPECIAL RULES:

Swimming: All Atlantans can swim. See the Atlantan armory for details.

Piranha School (Atlantan: Khaz-Nae)
Piranhas are the assault troops of the Atlantans, their name given by Imperial troops because of their frenzied savagery in battle. They are recruited in the Crystal Ocean, where you can see for miles and predators roam freely. These viscous warriors carry pistols and a variety of cutting weapons, usually sharp sticks or clubs embedded with pieces of bone, metal, or coral, occasionally coated with toxins.

--------Points/Model--WS-----BS-----S-------T-------W------I-------A-------Ld-----Sv
Piranha--------10---------4-------2-------3-------2[3]----1------4-------1--------8-------3+
Piranha Guide +10------4-------2-------3-------2[3]----1------4-------2--------9-------3+

School: 5-15 Piranhas.

Weapons: Disruptor pistol and razor baton.

Options: The squad may be equipped with stun grenades at +2 points per model or krak grenades at +3 points per model.

Character: One Piranha may be upgraded to a Piranha Guide at +5 points. The Guide is armed with a Disruptor pistol and close combat weapon and has access to the Atlantan armory.

Poseidon: The squad may be transported in a Poseidon (see the Poseidon entry at the end of the troops section) for +65 points.

SPECIAL RULES:

Swimming: All Atlantans can swim. See the Atlantan armory for details.

Combat Squids (Atlantan: Boll-archin)
One of the many species of wild sea creatures that the Atlantans domesticate and train to fight is their varied types of sea squids. They are both surgically and genetically enhanced, then let loose on the battlefield. To prevent them from running (squirming?) away during a fight, they are trained to respond to high-pitched signals emitted by remote controllers that are carried by the much smarter Atlantans.

----------Points/Model----WS---BS----S------T--------W------I--------A------Ld------Sv
Ink Squid---------7--------3----3------3--------3---------1--------3-------1--------6-------5+*
Spiny Squid------8--------3----0------3--------3---------1--------3-------2--------6-------5+
Deep-Sea Squid--10------4----0------4--------3---------2--------4-------2--------6-------4+

School: 5-20 Squids. All squids in the school must be of the same type.

Weapons: Their natural evolutions combined with Atlantan augmentation. more details are in the special rules.

Options: None

SPECIAL RULES:

Squid Controllers: Combat Squids must be assigned a character or independent character who is carrying a Squid Controller before the battle begins. Only one squid school may be assigned to each character/independent character, and no more than one character/independent character may be assigned to each squid school. The squid school operates separately from the model with its controller, but may use the character’s Leadership for any and all Morale checks or Leadership tests it is forced to make. If the model carrying a squid controller dies, the corresponding squid school must immediately take a Morale check at their base Leadership or fall back. They will use their base Leadership for the rest of the game. If they are in close combat when they fail the check, enemies who were in combat with them may only consolidate.

Ink Squids: Ink squids can jet powerful bursts of black ink at their enemies, both to blind them before an attack and to hide the squid. This grants the squid a 5+ cover save against all shooting attacks. They may also squirt ink at their enemies, which counts as a weapon with the following profile:

Range: 18”-----Strength: 4-----AP: N/A-------Assault 2
An enemy unit that is hit by an Ink Squid’s attack must use the Night Fight rules for shooting next turn.

Spiny Squids: Spiny squids are covered in sharp spikes and horns, which counts as a pair of close combat weapons (bonus already included in above profile). Additionally, any enemy unit that inflicts an unsaved wound on a Spiny Squid in close combat takes one additional Strength 3 hit per wound inflicted with normal saves allowed.

Deep-Sea Squids: Deep-sea squids can swing the club-like protrusions at the ends of their tentacles with bone and armor-shattering force. Any 6’s to hit rolled by a Deep-Sea Squid in close combat automatically wound with no save allowed. Invulnerable saves may be taken as normal.

Swimming: All squids can swim. See the Atlantan armory for details.

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Poseidon Transport
---------Points/Model--Armor: Front--Sides---Rear---BS
Poseidon--------65-----------------11-----11-------10-----3

Type: Tank

Crew: Atlantans.

Weapons: Reflector cannon.

Options: The Poseidon may take any of the vehicle upgrades listed in the Atlantan armory.

Transport: The Poseidon may carry up to fifteen Atlantans.

Amphibious: The Poseidon treats all water features as clear terrain.

Barracuda School (Atlantan: Pocq-Nae)
Barracudas fulfill the role of heavy weapon troopers in an Atlantan force, wielding huge gattling cannons and complex energy weapons. They are found in the Stormy Ocean, where the constant hurricanes and whirlpools make either incredible strength or heavy weights necessary to avoid being swept away. This makes them adept at absorbing the recoil of their chosen armaments.

----------Points/Model---WS---BS-----S--------T-------W-------I--------A-------Ld------Sv
Barracuda-----12----------2-----3/4-----3--------2[3]-----1-------3--------1--------8-------3+
Barracuda Guide- +10----2-----3/4-----3--------2[3]-----1-------3--------2--------9-------3+

School: 5-10 Barracudas.

Weapons: Disruptor rifles.

Options: Up to half the Barracudas in the squad may replace their Disruptor rifles with a heavy weapon chosen from the following list: warp cannon at +30 points, neutron blaster at +15 points, torpedo launcher at +20 points, plasma cannon at +20 points, teslacannon at +20 points, gattling cannon at +25 points. The squad may include up to one mirror-gun platform at a cost of +35 points. Two Barracudas must be nominated as gunners for the platform, and will replace their Disruptor rifles with either a Disruptor pistol or close combat weapon (they need at least one hand to move, aim, and fire the gun).

Character: One Barracuda in the school may be upgraded to a Barracuda Guide at a cost of +5 points. The Guide is armed with a Disruptor rifle and may select equipment from the Atlantan armory.

SPECIAL RULES:

Steady Aim: Barracudas are recruited from the Stormy Ocean on the Atlantan homeworld, where furious storms and maelstroms rage constantly, and only the strongest can avoid being swept away without wearing heavy metal weights. This strength directly transfers onto land with the Barracudas’ skill at absorbing the recoil of their weapons. All Barracudas have +1 to their BS (shown in profile above). They may move and fire their heavy weapons if they wish. If this is done, they lose the +1 BS and must move as if they were in difficult terrain. If actually in difficult terrain, they halve the result.

Swimming: All Atlantans can swim. See the Atlantan armory for details.

Zeus Heavy Submersible Battle Tank
--------Points/Model--Armor: Front--Side----Rear---BS
Zeus------------175---------------13-----13-------13----- 3

Type: Tank

Crew: Atlantans.

Weapons: A Zeus is armed with a hull-mounted twin-linked reflector cannon and two turret-mounted weapons chosen from the following list: warp cannon at +35 points, twin-linked teslacannon at +20 points, neutron blaster at +25 points, twin-linked plasma cannon at +30 points, twin-linked gattling cannon at +30 points. The Zeus may fill both of its turret slots with a plasma bomb launcher at +45 points.

Options: The Zeus may take any of the vehicle upgrades listed in the Atlantan armory.

SPECIAL RULES:

Amphibious: The Zeus treats water as clear terrain.

Dreadfish (Atlantan: Boll-entin)
Dreadfish are the mightiest predators in the Atlantan oceans. It is a symbiotic relationship between two organisms: the huge Dreadfish itself and a giant slug on its back that gives off mind-numbing shrieks. Together, they rampage through the waters on a never-ending feeding frenzy, requiring dozens of Atlantans in a combined effort to bring down.

----------Points/Model--WS---BS-----S-------T-------W-------I--------A------Ld-----Sv
Dreadfish------85---------5-----3-------7-------6--------4-------4--------3-------7-------2+

School: One Dreadfish.

Weapons: Its powerful teeth and claws (and the Screamer Slug’s ultrasonic bursts).

Options: None

SPECIAL RULES:

Screamer Slug: A Dreadfish is actually two creatures in one, the giant turtle-like Dreadfish and the soft, ugly Screamer Slug that is glued to its back. The two beasts work together to hunt prey, benefiting from each other’s weaknesses. The Dreadfish is a mighty predator, but suffers from an ungainly heavy shell that slows it down and gives its dinner time to escape. The Screamer slug has the ability to emit powerful waves of ultrasonic energy that stun and confuse its prey, but it moves far too slow and the prey has usually recovered and escaped by the time the slug approaches within attack range. When working as a team, the pair of creatures can function much more efficiently. The Screamer Slug stuns the prey with a blast of ultrasonic waves, then the Dreadfish moves in for the kill, with the slug devouring the leftovers. In battle, the Atlantans domesticate and train the otherwise dangerous monsters and unleash them on their enemies. The Screamer Slug’s sonic attack is treated as a weapon with the following profile:

Range: 24”------Strength: N/A-----AP: N/A------Assault 1
A unit hit by this attack suffers no casualties. Instead, they are automatically pinned. Units that are Fearless are not auto-pinned, but must instead take a Pinning check or suffer Pinning even if they normally pass such checks instantly.

Monstrous Creature: The Dreadfish is a massive hunter of the deep, and counts as a Monstrous Creature in close combat, so it ignores armor saves and rolls 2D6 for armor penetration.

Fearless: The Dreadfish preys on anything in the ocean, and has no natural enemies to fear. As such, it automatically passes any Morale Checks against falling back, even when such tests are normally failed automatically.

Swimming: The Dreadfish can swim. See the Atlantan special rules for details.

Antimatter club: An antimatter club is a simple weapon made from a bone or piece of metal with a force-field generator embedded in it that creates the same effect as a power weapon. An antimatter club can be wielded in one of the following ways:
-Field turned on: Functions as a normal power weapon
-Field turned off: Does not ignore armor saves, but any model wounded by the club may not attack until the end of the next Assault phase.

Shock rifle: Treated as a normal disruptor rifle that can fire once per battle as a teslacannon.

Warp rifle: Treated as a normal disruptor rifle that can fire once per battle as a warp cannon.

Plasma rifle: Treated as a normal disruptor rifle that can fire once per battle as an Atlantan plasma cannon.

Shark-spear: A long bladed spear that Atlantans use for hunting and for defense. The spear allows the model wielding it to make their full attacks if they are at least within 2” of an enemy model, but not necessarily in base contact. The spear requires two hands to use, so may not be wielded in combination with another weapon.

Battle trident: A battle trident is a large, three-pronged tool that serves as both a symbol of office and a deadly weapon. It requires two hands to use and so may not be combined with another weapon, but grants the user +2 Attacks in close combat. The battle trident is a power weapon.

Wave-field: A wave-field projects shimmering waves of energy that repel and absorb incoming force. The field grants its user a 4+ Invulnerable save that may be used if its ordinary save is negated.

Shadowscale cloak: Shadowscale cloaks are sown from the chameleon-like scales of the rainbowtooth fish. They grant their user +1 to any cover save they receive, and will get a 6+ cover save in the open. This does not count as cover for close combat purposes, nor does it allow them a cover save if they do not normally receive one (flamers, etc.).

Squid controller: A squid controller allows the user to command a school of Combat Squids. See the Combat Squids entry in the Atlantan army list for details.

Crystal Magnifier: A finely carved crystal that acts as a targeting device for whatever weapon the character is using. It allows the user to roll 3D6x3 for sight distance during missions where the Night Fight special rules are in effect. Also, it lets them re-roll one missed shot during the shooting phase. Note that the second result stands, even if it is also a miss.

Lodestone: Lodestones are carved from rocky cliffs at the bottom of deep trenches on the Atlantan homeworld. They have a very strange electromagnetic signature that disrupts nearby force fields and energy fields. A model equipped with a Lodestone ignores Invulnerable saves in close combat.

Banner of Unity: The Banner of Unity is a powerful symbol of leadership and bravery for any Atlantan who views it. All Atlantan units with a model within 6” of the Banner becomes Fearless. As long as the model bearing the Banner remains alive on the field, any Atlantan unit forced to fall back while within line of sight of the banner will not fall back towards the table edge or wherever the scenario rules direct. Instead, they will fall back towards the Banner. If they approach within 6”, they will immediately regroup and become Fearless. When the model bearing the banner dies, all Atlantan units within line of sight must immediately take a Morale check or fall back.

Flag of Bloodfury: The Flag of Bloodfury is a dangerous artifact, created only in times of greatest need. When an Atlantan warrior suffers a mortal wound in battle but wishes to keep fighting, their blood is soaked into a flag and their spirit bonded within. Other members of the Atlantan army carry these powerful banners into battle, with the trapped spirit waiting to be released. When the bearer of the Flag falls, the spirit inside rushes out in a fiery burst of hatred and pain to avenge its fallen comrade. If a model bearing a Flag of Bloodfury dies in close combat, inflict 2D6 Strength 6 AP4 hits on the enemy unit or model that caused the death. Add any casualties resulting from the attack to the combat results.

Warp Cannon: Warp cannons fire a controlled blast of destabilizing energy that flings whatever it contacts on a split-second journey through the local currents of the Warp. To fire a warp cannon, roll to hit as normal. If it hits, place the template as per the rule for blast weapons. Each model under the template is moved D6” in a random direction before rolling to wound. This may break unit coherency.

Neutron Blaster: A neutron blaster fires a stream of antiparticles that cool anything they strike to the point where the object reaches a temperature of absolute zero. This causes the molecules that make up the object to disperse into nothingness, with imaginably catastrophic results on the unfortunate person! Roll a D6 for any model that takes a wound from a neutron blaster. On a roll of 4+, they are killed outright regardless of how many wounds they have remaining.

Atlantan Plasma Cannon: The variant form of the Plasma cannon used by the Atlantans is modified to be much more energy-efficient, for use underwater. As such, it is much weaker than its Imperial counterpart but can be fired on the move. Plasma cannons will still overheat if a 1 is rolled to hit (not when mounted on vehicles).

Gattling Cannon: A gattling cannon is similar to a Space Marine assault cannon, but is greatly improved because of superior cooling systems, allowing it to fire far more shots. Each turn it fires at the same target after the first turn it fires, a gattling cannon fires the number of shots it fired last turn plus an additional D3 shots. If the gattling cannon changes targets or is prevented from firing for one turn for any reason, the cycle is broken and the cannon must start over at its basic D3 shots.

Teslacannon: Teslacannons fire a powerful jolt of electricity that can jump from one target to another. If a model carrying a teslacannon scores a hit on an enemy model, you may immediately roll to hit another model in the same squad. You may keep rolling to hit additional models until you miss or every model in the squad has been struck once. Roll to wound once all possible hits have been resolved. If firing at a vehicle, a 6 to damage will add another D6 to the total. Another 6 has no additional effect beyond the extra damage. This represents the waves of electrical energy surging through the vehicle and overloading systems.

Plasma Bomb Launchers: Plasma Bomb Launchers fire huge blobs of superheated plasma energy that is contained within a force sphere. The sphere ruptures on impact, spraying the deadly plasma in all directions. The plasma bomb launcher rolls 2D6 for armor penetration like a melta weapon, and rolls on the Ordnance Penetrating Hit chart if it penetrates.

Mine Layers: The Apollo tank can spread hundreds of deadly mines in its wake as it speeds around the battlefield. To fire a mine layer, place a blast template touching the rear of the minelayer tank. A heavy mine layer drops minefields the size of ordnance templates. Once placed, a minefield lasts until the end of the game, unless it is defused (see below). Minefields are identical to the minefields listed in the Warhammer 40K rulebook in all respects, except the size/shape.

Defusing Minefields: An enemy unit may attempt to defuse an Atlantan minefield in their assault phase, unlike normal minefields. This requires them to make an assault move into the minefield so at least one model is within the minefield (if the squad is already in the field, no movement is necessary). This may result in a model triggering a mine as per the normal rules. To defuse a minefield, the squad rolls a D6 on the following table:

(1) Badda-Boom!!! - Oops! One of the squad members tripped, or discharged their weapon, or something, and set off a chain reaction. Every model in the minefield must take an armor save or suffer a wound. Remove the minefield from play. Any survivors may consolidate as if they had won a close combat.

(2-5) Hey, there’s one! - The squad is busily hunting mines, and does not accomplish anything this turn.

(6) It’s all clear! – The minefield is successfully disarmed. Remove the field from play, the squad may consolidate as if they had won a close combat.

Models attempting to disarm a minefield count as being in cover for purposes of being assaulted (enemies will be apprehensive about charging into their own minefields). A squad equipped with an auspex/scanner (or its equivalent) gains +2 to the roll, but a roll of 1 will always explode the minefield.